It was a surprise for people dining outside the Square Café on South Braddock Avenue in Pittsburgh's Regent Square section. They witnessed as onlookers at the marriage of same-sex marriage of two Pittsburgh men, performed on the same day that the legality of such marriages was the topic of a battle in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court in the state capitol of Harrisburg.

Thirty-three-year-old Jamie ONeil and and 32-year-old Jason Smathers of Regent Square asked Braddock Mayor John Fetterman to perform their wedding ceremony. The obtained their license from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Register of Wills Bruce Hanes, whose issuance of licenses to same-sex couples is being challenged in court by Gov. Tom Corbett's administration. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has chosen not to defend Pennsylvania's 1996 law, which says marriage must be between a man and a woman.

Standing just outside the café entrance, Fetterman proclaimed, "therefore, by the power invested in me by the county of Allegheny and the state of Pennsylvania, I'd like to introduce everybody to the brand new couple," telling ONeil and Smathers "you may now kiss your spouse." They did so to the cheers of onlookers.

Ceremonies like theirs have Pennsylvania State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler County, unhappy.

"What's the deal with elected officials nowadays, who think they're above the rule of law?" he asked in a video posted on his official website.

Newlyweds ONeil and Smathers say that not allowing them to marry is discrimination.

"I think it will probably go through sooner than later. That it will be legal. More people are open to the idea," said ONeil.

"I just never thought that I'd be able to legally marry the person that I love. I thought I was doomed to a life without being able to marry," Smathers said.

When informed of the couple's wedding and their marriage certificate, Metcalfe told Channel 4 Action News, "the paper that they're issuing does not have the value of what ink has been put on the paper or the paper itself. I mean, it's worth nothing."

Fetterman said he'll continue to honor marriage licenses presented to him by same-sex couples.

"Opponents would call it meaningless or worthless. You try telling that to a couple that's been together for 30 years, and finally has a chance to have a legal document in their hands that just gives them the right any other straight person in this state has," said Fetterman, who married such a longstanding same-sex couple. "Just imagine being a couple and never be able to be officially married. I mean there's no reason for this level of discrimination," Fetterman said.

In his Web video, Metcalfe said, "elected officials who choose to willfully break the law, defy the rule of law, and blatantly violate the Pennsylvania Constitution should be removed from office."

Fetterman said this couple's wedding was the ninth he's performed. All of them involved marriage licenses issued by Montgomery County. "I'm very hopeful that the court hearing goes the right way, but if it doesn't I know the fight will continue. As long as Mr. Hanes keeps printing them, we're going to be officiating them out west."

Deborah Rosen, ONeil and Smather's friend and landlord. spoke at their ceremony, saying, "I think this is a wonderful opportunity to show that two people who live each other and care about each other can be together, and everybody should have that right."

The couple addressed each other before exchanging vows. ONeil told Smathers, "I never thought this day would come. It's been a long haul between the two of us. I'm just happy we can finally make this official and be (the) two of us together." Smathers responded, "Thank you. It feels wonderful being able to actually legally do this -- somewhat -- and have the same rights as everybody else is going to have."

Fetterman noted, "they've been together as a couple over five years. And that's the shortest length of time of all the couples I've married."

Metcalfe said Kane's refusal to defend Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage has encouraged Hanes and Fetterman to "act lawlessly." Metcalfe believes the Legislature should remove Kane from office, and he's drafting an impeachment resolution to bring against her. He said he believes Hanes and Fetterman should also be removed from office, but given the time available to Pennsylvania's legislators, he is focusing his efforts on Kane. Metcalfe said his pending impeachment resolution against her could serve as a template for impeachment of others.